Open BTU: The Himmler brothers. A German family history or: Why did my grandparents become National Socialists?

The Himmler brothers. A German family history or: Why did my grandparents become National Socialists?

In her lecture, Katrin Himmler addresses the question of why National Socialism and its "master race" ideology were so attractive to her own grandparents and to so many other Germans and explains this, among other things, on the basis of the research findings on her family history, which she published in her book "The Himmler Brothers".

She reports on how the Himmler family, but also other German families, dealt with their (shared) responsibility for Nazi crimes after 1945. To what extent was this responsibility concealed, played down and in some cases still denied to this day? And what impact does this family silence have on future generations?

Speaker: Katrin Himmler, political scientist, author and grandniece of Heinrich Himmler

Moderator: Thomas Besch, graduate theologian, Provost, Catholic Provost's Office Cottbus

This lecture is organized in cooperation with the Akademieforum Cottbus e.V. You can find the association's program at www.kath-cottbus.de.

The event is kindly supported by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

About the Open BTU lecture series

From April 10, 2024 to June 12, 2024, the public lecture series "Open BTU" will offer interesting insights into exciting scientific fields. In the summer semester, the following topics will be examined from different perspectives:

• Empathy, guilt and forgiveness after the 2nd World War
• Sorbian/Wendish culture in the current transformation process
• The effects of populism on the economy and social groups
• Trees in transition - challenges and opportunities (as part of the 32nd Cottbus Environment Week)
• Battery research for the energy transition - prospects for innovative battery recycling

With this educational format, which is open to all interested parties, the university's Centre for Continuing Education supports lifelong learning and funds the transfer of knowledge and ideas in the region by addressing socially relevant issues. The BTU cooperates with other universities and institutions. Each lecture will be followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion with the speakers. Anyone interested is cordially invited to take part in the wide range of events on offer.